I just spent a few days with my brother. We spent our time looking at old cars, remembering what it was like to drive or ride in certain makes or models. We also drove a couple of hours so my brother could do his #12 on his 48 state run tour, which turned out to be his coldest. I also signed up for a one mile walk, and beat my record pace time. Returning, we stopped at the Ice Cream Capital of the World, Le Mars, Iowa, and among other things, stopped at the Freking Law Office (yeah, that's really it's name). We also watch a OSU game and a couple of Pro Football games on TV. On top of all of that, we got to spend a lot of time visiting.
In the 72 or so hours, I learned to laugh and remember again. I learned to enjoy things that seemed to be forgotten by the rush of my "everyday life". I recalled what it was like to "have fun", even if, as I said, "I rode 2 hours to walk a mile in the rain, and all I got was a t-shirt (and it was a blast!)"
Sure, I miss my brother already, but I'm already looking at my calendar for vacation plans to Ohio to see family and old friends. I'm also looking more at my walking schedule, working at getting my leg back in shape, with a goal of entering a Run at "some point".
It's those times in life when you can step back and not take things so seriously... laughing at those comments you or someone else makes (like someone having two broken arms - as opposed to three? or "you're gonna shake your what"?! (inside joke)).
If you've been living under a rock recently, you haven't heard about the auto auction in Pierce, Nebraska this weekend. All sorts of vehicles are being sold, as well as parts and memorabilia.
This has created a circus-like atmosphere for the tiny city of Pierce and the surrounding areas. No one can get a hotel room for hundreds of miles, nor a camping spot. Farmers and businesses have cleared fields to help out, as well as make a few bucks.
Some of this will be interesting. Some cars are unique, sitting on a showroom floor for years, whereas others have sat in a field, exposed to the elements as well as vandals and thieves.
A sad part in this seems to be a hype that has been placed on everything. Sure, there is some history in this old dealership that closed its doors some time ago, but what people don't know about is the stories that the auction company didn't tell - like when they went to interview some old residents at the care home for some video footage and couldn't get anything "nice" to film. Or how the old used cars have been sitting in a field for so long that it's really like seeing a used car lot.
I'm not trying to take away anything from the town. Pierce is a great city full of great people. But the people here know the real history that doesn't always make it to print or the video press.
When everything is back to "normal", I'm sure we'll all have a big sigh of relief. =)
I’ve attempted four times to write something, only to
roll my eyes at myself, shake my head, or make that sound that sounds like a
chipmunk just got hugged too hard.
Maybe it’s because I’m surprised at humanity. But given
my ‘occupation’ and route through life, I’ve seen a lot. So I can’t really be
too surprised.
Maybe it’s because I’ve confused why some people do what
they do. But seeing how they go on and on about this, that, or the other via
social media, socializing, or any other form of gathering, I just chalk it up
to different things. So I can’t be too confused.
Maybe it’s because I don’t remember this sort of behavior
when I was growing up. Some old high school friends have told me things that
happened that I never knew about, and that did catch me off guard. But these
things are happening right in the open for the world to see. So it’s not really
a shock.
The only thing I can come up with is that some people
think that somewhere in this vast universe, someone owes them something. Maybe
because they didn’t have enough as a kid. Or maybe because they had too much.
Or maybe because they didn’t understand the meaning of “get all of the facts”.
Or maybe no one taught them how to ask a question. Or maybe they think they
already have the answers and no one can tell them different. Or maybe they
think that no one has the answers and everything is a waste of time.
But then there is that moment when someone comes along
and takes that person and puts them in their place. Maybe in a subtle way,
maybe direct and blunt. It’s like a bully trying to show up on a playground
with a big stick, and the other kid shows up with 20 kids, all with bigger
sticks.
Instead of trying to bring your big stick to the
playground, how about leaving it at home and seeing how much fun and
interesting it could be to just have a good time and learn something from the
others?
I just left my appointment with my new health care provider. I had to switch doctors, as the previous one has retired after many great years of service.
And of course, as most clinics do, I had to step on the scales. The dreaded scales. I knew I wasn't going to be happy with the number because my pants have been getting a little tighter.
Well, let's say that "wasn't going to be happy" can't come close to describing my feelings.
Maybe something like "downright pi$$ed off" could be a better term.
Over the past few months, I've had plenty of changes in my personal and professional life. A lot of great things, but change is change, and change causes me a get a little (lot) stressed out, and then I may "stress eat".
In the past, I've done really great, but lately, it has been as easy. I can make a ton of excuses why, but it all lies in how I'm going to handle everything from here.
I made a commitment some time ago to hit a certain goal, and now instead of getting closer to that goal, or at least teetering in a certain area, I'm watching that goal slip away.
Now I know that some might say "But Kevin, you were walking and stuff, and muscle weighs more than fat. Well, thank you. But I also don't have the build like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
So here's how's it's going to be... I am going to hit this thing full steam, rolling over anything that gets in my way. Head on. Direct. Kicking butt and taking names later. Over the top and laughing all the way. Gritting teeth and snarling the the nay-sayers.
So here's the starting number - 318.
... And bless your hearts.
It has been a while since my last blog. A long while. A very
long while, considering when I started this a couple of years ago, it was a
challenge to be my “Wesley-like” and keep up with the discipline of journaling.
It is what it is.
Just because I haven’t kept up doesn’t mean that nothing has
happened. Oh, trust me, as the saying goes, “life is what you make it”, and
I’ve got enough to feed an army!
I’ve started reading “Generation to Generation” by Edwin
Friedman. It’s for an 18-month course that I’m taking that is dealing
specifically with dealing with Family Systems Theory. It will probably be one
of the best courses I’ll ever take.
Something that has been brought up in Friedman’s book as
well as the course is how people become excited or anxious in particular situations,
and when they do, it causes other people to become just as excited in many
different ways. I’ve seen this SO MUCH on social media. Things like the recent
news in Georgia of a young man who went into a school intending not to hurt any
students or staff. Or the different drills around the country of how to deal
with particular situations.
Other situations poke their head up in similar situations… “my
problems are bigger than yours”, or “why does so-and-so have to keep everything
private”, or “this is what happened with me, so this is how it’s going to
happen to you”, or how someone has no concept about a person’s job, but will
dictate how that person needs to do their job.
I recently did an experiment with a group of people where I
sat in a room and said nothing. Absolutely nothing. For some of you, this may
seem impossible, and maybe even shocking, but really, I did it – said nothing.
Doing so, there was a noticeable rise in the anxiety level because a certain
group of people (let’s say, um, the “test subjects”), expected a reaction and
didn’t get any. The funny part was when I was later approached and asked if
there was a problem because all I did was smile the entire time.
… Did I have a problem because I was smiling? That will be a
chapter in my book someday.
The point is – sometimes our true happiness isn’t in the
issues around us, but in the happiness within us.
If we worry about ourselves instead of trying to stand on a pedestal, our
insides will feel much nicer.
(and the higher you try to put yourself on a pedestal, the harder you’ll fall
when someone easily knocks you down)
Just over a year ago I started my new lifestyle, and after a month, I was at the Nebraska United Methodist Annual Conference. A lot of people mentioned that they could see the ten pounds that I had lost (they saw it in my face - ref: John Pinette YouTube video about that!). Now I'm getting ready to go back for this year's Annual Conference, 70 pounds lighter. I'm wondering where people will say they'll see the loss from (be careful how you answer this one!)
As I'm packing for the Sessions, meetings, and such, I've noticed that I have smaller-sized clothes than last year (bonus!), but I'm also packing more clothes because of the exercising I'm doing - maybe a walk or jog in the morning, then change into some business attire, then later in the day, change into something for a walk in the evening, and depending on the meetings or dinner plans, having something ready to wear for that.
So as I'm noticing that my "Conference clothes" are taking up less space in my luggage, my overall trip requires more clothes...
How did this happen?
I did agree to take on the "steps" challenge through the Conference (who gets the most steps on their pedometer), but I also have a smaller car to save fuel.
I'm trying to be more economical. Less body weight. Smaller car.
Something isn't adding up.
About a year ago I started with the full focus and determination to live a new life. I wanted to live more healthier, happy, and energetic. Well, you can't beat 'em all.
Actually, I'm probably am more healthier. I set a goal of losing 100 pounds with a variable of "whatever", meaning that wherever I was in a year, so be it. A year later, I'm around 70 pounds lost. I've had some ups and downs, but it is what it is. I'm not huffing and puffing. I'm not sweating grease. Some medicines that I was taking have been trimmed back or eliminated all together.
I am happier, even though I still don't smile as much as I'm told I should. I laugh more. I find joy in things. And to the dismay of some people, I do find laughter in how people don't understand me.
But that's ok. I'm not here to please you. Bless your heart. =)
I can also say, without a shadow of a doubt, that I'm much more energetic. When I started on my new lifestyle, I was doing some serious walking, even winning "bragging rights" at the Annual Conference Steps Challenge", but then walking the two miles around town - different terrain and elevations - proved to be the real challenge. The toughest part was the start - getting from the door to the street, and that was downhill. I was walking the two miles in about 48 minutes, 46 if the weather was right and there was oxygen waiting for me at the other end.
Now, my best time is 33 minutes, and that's because I can start off jogging uphill for a block and then keeping up a quick pace the rest of the way. I'm really excited to see what I can do when I get the "right kind" of clothing.
There are certain things that happen when losing this much weight, so that means I have to do some shopping.
That brings me to a strange twist. A year ago, I was looking through my clothes for something that would fit me. Now, I'm looking through my clothes for something that will fit me.
Yeah, same issue, but different ends. A year ago, clothes were too tight. Now, clothes are too loose. I didn't think I'd complain about it until the other day as I was responding to a fire call and my loose shirt got caught on a door knob. I'm sure I'll laugh about that later after the pain goes away (just kidding). But I'm sure that my "snapping back" looked funny from a distance.
A month after starting my new lifestyle, I had lost ten pounds. A lot of people at the Nebraska United Methodist Annual Conference commented that they could see it in my face.
I was disappointed that I had "only lost" ten pounds until my brother pointed out that I was well above average. Wow! I'm never above average. Ask anyone. Plus listening to comedian John Pinette talking about "seeing it in the face" makes me still chuckle.
Next month is our next Annual Conference. Wonder what sort of comments I'll hear this time.
I have found that this biggest disadvantage to losing weight is that I can't carry snacks at a football game nearly as well. Let me explain.
Part of my "new lifestyle" involved not worrying about "being starved" from certain things. If I wanted a hot dog and popcorn at a football game, then I'll have some. And I enjoy high school football games, and Pierce HS sure turned up the heat again this year.
But as I lost the fat, I lost the "natural cushion", thus making it a little uncomfortable to sit on the metal bleachers, so I'd take one of those cushions that you'd buy from the kids who are trying to raise money for their school trips or something.
But then I have to carry the cushion, a hot dog, popcorn, and maybe a bottle of pop, up the bleacher steps. What a hassle.
So yeah, sometimes I do miss my butt.
It's been a year now. Twelve months. Fifty-two weeks. But it's not the end - it's only the beginning. So look out, because if I could accomplish what I though to be the impossible, what else can I do?
(That could be a scary thought!)
